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[Vognerful]

Some are still saying it on this very page.

So which way is it now the acceptable view by sonyGAF?

 

[Banjo64]

A thought experiment a more hilarious response than I could ever have imagined

 

[PharaoTutAnchAmun]

JABEE should email the ree mods and say his post was a "thought experiment" and see what they say.

I think that JABEE would post this his post would be deleted in a split second and the banhammer would whoop his ass for life..

 

[DeepEnigma]

So which way is it now the acceptable view by sonyGAF?

Probably, like 30fps are acceptable creative choices by XboxGonnaGiveItToYaEatingMonstersForBreakfastGAF

 

[GHound]

Wonder if the astroturfing is also a "thought experiment."

 

[Three]

I think that JABEE would post this his post would be deleted in a split second and the banhammer would whoop his ass for life..

Most likely

 

[Vognerful]

Probably, like 30fps are acceptable creative choices by XboxGonnaGiveItToYaEatingMonstersForBreakfastGAF

Short and sassy.

I like that.

Would it be ok if Microsoft took the 70 billion and money hated every major AAA game for 1 year, for years? They are not buying the competition.

I don't see a world or a scenario where Microsoft would be allowed to use their leverage as a trillion company to play in the same field as Sony without raising the concern of uneven advantage they have. I mean we can say they should focus on developing good games, but Sony doesn't do that only.

So let's say in the subject of times exclusives, is their a limit in the scenario I assumed above where Microsoft cannot cross? Like it would require intervention from FTC or CMA? I mean theoretically speaking with the money they have, they can create a similar effect without buying any publisher.

 

[aries_71]

You think Sony will take Destiny exclusive?

No doubt about it. They’ll slap a different name on it and market it as a new revolutionary title.

 

[Dick Jones]

No doubt about it. They’ll slap a different name on it and market it as a new revolutionary title.

Did Marathon get cancelled on Xbox? Where did you hear that?

 

[DeepEnigma]

Short and sassy.

I like that.

Would it be ok if Microsoft took the 70 billion and money hated every major AAA game for 1 year, for years? They are not buying the competition.

I don't see a world or a scenario where Microsoft would be allowed to use their leverage as a trillion company to play in the same field as Sony without raising the concern of uneven advantage they have. I mean we can say they should focus on developing good games, but Sony doesn't do that only.

So let's say in the subject of times exclusives, is their a limit in the scenario I assumed above where Microsoft cannot cross? Like it would require intervention from FTC or CMA? I mean theoretically speaking with the money they have, they can create a similar effect without buying any publisher.

They won't in your hypothetical. They want to own the industry and extinguish the competition. But that was just a "thought experiment." Totes!

No doubt about it. They’ll slap a different name on it and market it as a new revolutionary title.

And MS will just rebrand it, 'People of Duty'


Though Marathon is multiplat.

 

[Alebrije]

Thought experiment?

They should say the e mail was a "creative decision" instead, since it seem it works better these days...

 

[DeepEnigma]

Thet should say the e mail was a "creative decision" instead, since it seem it works better these days...

 

[Topher]

Thet should say the e mail was a "creative decision" instead, since it seem it works better these days...

lol....the jokes write themselves almost.

 

[Vognerful]

They won't in your hypothetical. They want to own the industry and extinguish the competition. But that was just a "thought experiment." Totes!


And MS will just rebrand it, 'People of Duty'


Though Marathon is multiplat.

You did not give me an answer and we are discussing a hypothetical scenario that is possible in the realm we live in.

Would it be ok if Microsoft took the 70 billion and money hated every major AAA game for 1 year, for years? They are not buying the competition.

 

[realcool]

thought experiments turn into future coincidences. stay ahead of the spin.

 

[Dick Jones]

And MS will just rebrand it, 'People of Duty'

Experiment of Thought: Creative Decision II

 

[DeepEnigma]

You did not give me an answer and we are discussing a hypothetical scenario that is possible in the realm we live in.

Would it be ok if Microsoft took the 70 billion and money hated every major AAA game for 1 year, for years? They are not buying the competition.

I am not playing hypotheticals. We have evidence and admittance at hand.

MS amounted failures in 20+ years in the industry at their own hand. Nobody else. So now they want to stomp their feet and push around their $2.6T might, even telegraph that via an email in 2019, so now regulation will have to do its thing.

They are not a victim.

 

[Vognerful]

I am not playing hypotheticals. We have evidence and admittance at hand.

MS amounted failures in 20+ years in the industry at their own hand. Nobody else. So now they want to stomp their feet and push around their $2.6T might, even telegraph that via an email in 2019, so now regulation will have to do its thing.

They are not a victim.

Never said they were.

Your lack of response I would assume means that there is no scenario that exists where Microsoft would not end up strongarm Sony and other companies unless we put holds on them. Purchasing publishers? 3rd party exclusives? Offering ridiculous salary packages to Santa Monica, naughty dog and guerrilla devs to leave Sony and join Microsoft?

In all these cases, there is no even fields between Sony and Microsoft even if they "play by the book".

The problem is not that Microsoft is buying actibliz, a major publisher..........

The problem is that Microsoft exist.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Can someone with some skills put "leave Microsoft alone" over that famous gif of the "leave Britany alone!" girl. Thanks.

 

[ResilientBanana]

What exactly is this a comparison of? $30B is the total revenue the COD franchise has made since 2003. 20 years of revenue on phones, PC, Xbox, PlayStation; In warzone, mobile microtransactions, the whole lot. What exactly is the $1B in comparison? Zenimax makes that in 2years. It will probably make that in a quarter with a single big release like starfield. MS makes that in 1 quarter of GP. This comparison of yours is hugely flawed.

This is a comparison as to how much cash Microsoft paid for Bethesda, compared to how much Microsoft is willing to pay for Activision. Bethesda, can stay exclusive, but Activision needs to stay multi-plat.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Never said they were.

Your lack of response I would assume means that there is no scenario that exists where Microsoft would not end up strongarm Sony and other companies unless we put holds on them. Purchasing publishers? 3rd party exclusives? Offering ridiculous salary packages to Santa Monica, naughty dog and guerrilla devs to leave Sony and join Microsoft?

In all these cases, there is no even fields between Sony and Microsoft even if they "play by the book".

The problem is not that Microsoft is buying actibliz, a major publisher..........

The problem is that Microsoft exist.

What lack of response.? I am not playing hypotheticals in the Kafka trap. Go project your feelings to a wall.

I said what I said.

 

[Ronin_7]

Between this & price increases the CMA is gonna crush these clowns hard LMAO

I CAN'T even stop laughing at this

 

[Azurro]

Wonder if the astroturfing is also a "thought experiment."

I don't think there's much thought going on amongst the asteoturfers.

 

[Sethbacca]

The problem is that Microsoft exist.

The problem is that Microsoft has a long history of losing cases for doing the exact thing of which they're currently being accused. It really shouldn't be that hard to comprehend this basic a fact.

 

[Edgelord79]

Wonder who will buy Activision-Blizzard if the deal falls through? Clearly they want to be purchased.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Wonder who will buy Activision-Blizzard if the deal falls through? Clearly they want to be purchased.

They may not want to after. They are doing very well recently and their stock is up a lot compared to when they wanted to in the $60/share range at the time. In fact, their stock went UP when the CMA announced their decision to block.

 

[Edgelord79]

They may not want to after. They are doing very well recently and their stock is up a lot compared to when they wanted to in the $60/share range at the time. In fact, their stock went UP when the CMA announced their decision.

Seriously doubt this changes anything. If anything they could ask for more.

 

[Three]

This is a comparison as to how much cash Microsoft paid for Bethesda, compared to how much Microsoft is willing to pay for Activision. Bethesda, can stay exclusive, but Activision needs to stay multi-plat.

But those weren't $1B and $30B either.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Seriously doubt this changes anything.

What changed anything? The deal is still blocked as of today.

 

[Moses85]

Money is only paper for MS

 

[Edgelord79]

What changed anything? The deal is still blocked as of today.

I’m not a lawyer, but from what I’ve read this doesn’t necessarily mean the deal is done. I thought it just meant the business would be restricted to certain areas.

Most likely this would mean that the deal would be revised or at least this would be challenged.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

 

[poppabk]

It's corroborative, yes. Which is why MS is now trying to push the pathetic "thought experiment" narrative.

They think you are stupid, do you think you are stupid?

I'm sure they would not shed a tear if Sony dropped out of the market but to think they have a plan to force Sony out of the market is, well, stupid. They have failed to even compete with Sony since the Xbox, but now suddenly think they can not only compete but extinguish Sony? They totally failed to outcompete Steam on their own OS where they could add all the hooks they wanted along with money hatting GFWL exclusivity. Their own games still sell gangbusters on Steam even with tyem being 'free' on gamepass.
If they really thought they could push out Sony - either as a thought experiment or for real then they are stupid (they may be stupid, they have done lots of stupid things)

 

[Yoboman]

They would not take away COD. It would kill the IP. Some other shooter would become the go to game for a 100 million playstation users and multiple platform users. There is a reason all the big money making competive shooters are on every single device that can run it. There is a reason Microsoft didn't make minecraft exclusive. They didn't want to give other games a 100 million user base to build a competitor and become the defacto game of the genre.

It's funny this became the dominant argument

When the whole thing was first announced it was "there's no way Microsoft would spend $70 billion and stay multiplat" and that Sony took an L for keeping Bungie multiplat

 

[Dane]

#SonyToo. This is about what a company is doing now. Not something a company may or may not be guilty of 30 years ago. And if you do want to play that game, nothing Sony did, 30 years ago, is remotely the same situation as what Microsoft is attempting now. A company, wealthy beyond belief, attempting nothing more than completely buying out the industry. Having the means to do it, and, should the e-mail prove true, which has yet to be shown or even stated by Microsoft as false, the intent to do so. Sony has never been in a position to just buy their way to dominance. Even if they were, they clearly didn't do it.

Sony, 30 years ago, entered a market with a lot of established players. Their relative wealth allowed them a solid position from the start. That's fine. Just as it was fine when Microsoft did it. Just as it would be fine if Amazon did it. They also helped provide a means for developers to get out from under the predatory practices of Nintendo at the time. Which is why so many developers threw their lot in with PlayStation. They didn't straight out buy big publishers. They didn't forever starve the opposing playerbases of huge, multiplatform franchises by simply owning the companies making them. They certainly weren't buying multiple of them.

No, buying Psygnosis was not some earth-shattering development that gave them a huge advantage and posed a threat to Sega, Nintendo, Atari, or any companies involved with the 3DO project. Those companies all proved to be threats to themselves. It merely helped to stabilize PlayStation for entry. There was nothing back then that was anything like Activision's current position. No phenomenon like Call of Duty existed. I would say that Psygnosis wasn't even Zenimax levels of important. And even among those that were big deals back then, Sony never bought them. They didn't buy Konami, Capcom, Squaresoft, or even Sega or Nintendo. You know who tried?

Sony's wild success with PS2 was the result of good moves they made the previous generation and by making that console a cheap DVD player. Not because they bought out EA. Let's also be clear that Sony has shown vulnerability to PlayStation screwing the pooch in the past. Sony was in huge financial trouble during the PS3 era. Not just because of PS3, but it was a big contributing factor. Now, after 30 years, Sony is in a position where if PlayStation goes under, it would be catastrophic for them. So they have to be very careful. Microsoft doesn't care. Xbox could instantly cease to exist and the company would largely carry on as usual.

If PlayStation did the same, Sony would be filing for bankruptcy. They're even making themselves even more vulnerable to that situation by spinning off their financial arm to focus more on entertainment. Especially video games. A market that is very wide, with many choices, and virtually impossible for a company like Sony to corner. If Sony did attempt as such, I would be just as adamant that they're being scummy. Because my values don't shift depending on who I'm talking about.

Psygnosis was the largest publisher in Europe and a pilar for PS1 early days, and helped to cement their position in the continent. While Sony didn't buy the big publishers, they were sure to make their content as exclusive as possible until the OG Xbox was starting to crack in the sideways and fully with the Xbox 360 even before its release. Fast forward they made games like SF5 and FF7R and XVI as exclusives early on to capitalize their genres as almost exclusive to the platforms, Square for example has made a massive unseen backtrack on supporting a decent selling console (Xbox) for no public reason, and FF7R to this day hasn't seen an Xbox port despite the original contract expiring 12 months after its release. Companies won't copy line per line what's the other doing, they will instead create their own routes, Microsoft re-ignited their investment with acquisitions after closing a bunch of studios over its lifetime and expanded on that, its just business as it is for Sony to attempt to foreclosure X genres on their competitors by taking the big hits and taking advantages of the technologies they created.

 

[Slikk360]

Psygnosis was the largest publisher in Europe and a pilar for PS1 early days, and helped to cement their position in the continent. While Sony didn't buy the big publishers, they were sure to make their content as exclusive as possible until the OG Xbox was starting to crack in the sideways and fully with the Xbox 360 even before its release. Fast forward they made games like SF5 and FF7R and XVI as exclusives early on to capitalize their genres as almost exclusive to the platforms, Square for example has made a massive unseen backtrack on supporting a decent selling console (Xbox) for no public reason, and FF7R to this day hasn't seen an Xbox port despite the original contract expiring 12 months after its release. Companies won't copy line per line what's the other doing, they will instead create their own routes, Microsoft re-ignited their investment with acquisitions after closing a bunch of studios over its lifetime and expanded on that, its just business as it is for Sony to attempt to foreclosure X genres on their competitors by taking the big hits and taking advantages of the technologies they created.

Wasn't SFV helped funded by sony that

Psygnosis was the largest publisher in Europe and a pilar for PS1 early days, and helped to cement their position in the continent. While Sony didn't buy the big publishers, they were sure to make their content as exclusive as possible until the OG Xbox was starting to crack in the sideways and fully with the Xbox 360 even before its release. Fast forward they made games like SF5 and FF7R and XVI as exclusives early on to capitalize their genres as almost exclusive to the platforms, Square for example has made a massive unseen backtrack on supporting a decent selling console (Xbox) for no public reason, and FF7R to this day hasn't seen an Xbox port despite the original contract expiring 12 months after its release. Companies won't copy line per line what's the other doing, they will instead create their own routes, Microsoft re-ignited their investment with acquisitions after closing a bunch of studios over its lifetime and expanded on that, its just business as it is for Sony to attempt to foreclosure X genres on their competitors by taking the big hits and taking advantages of the technologies they created.

I think both Capcom and Sony Funded Street Fighter V. It's been a while I could have remembered that wrong.

 

[Silent Viper]

OP

Who hurt you?

 

[Dr. Claus]

I’m not a lawyer, but from what I’ve read this doesn’t necessarily mean the deal is done. I thought it just meant the business would be restricted to certain areas.

Most likely this would mean that the deal would be revised or at least this would be challenged.

That is wishful thinking. The deal is dead. Microsoft screwed the pooch and quite frankly, we as a community are better off because of it.

 

[Dick Jones]

Wonder who will buy Activision-Blizzard if the deal falls through? Clearly they want to be purchased.

They only wanted to be purchased when Bobby Kotick of the Epstein Island Koticks was under severe pressure for allowing a culture of sexual assaults/harassments in the ABK workplace and doing nothing (ignoring his own accusations). The pressure would have forced him out...

Then some dopey cunt in a gamer tshirt threw him enough of a lifetime to either cash out at a great price or enough breathing space that he could continue on when the media moved on. Kotick wouldn't have looked to be sold if the media weren't onto him.

Kotick will continue his shit now. Had MS bought ABK, that cunt would have likely been running the Xbox Division well before the 10 year deals were up. Either way, Bobby was coming out on top.

 

[The Pleasure]

I have a question to ask everyone.

Does Matt Booty have a pair of shorts that say JUICY on them?

 

[Edgelord79]

That is wishful thinking. The deal is dead. Microsoft screwed the pooch and quite frankly, we as a community are better off because of it.

I’m not wishing anything I’m just stating what I’m reading from lawyers.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Deffo gonna chat up some birds online and when my Mrs catches me ill just say its a thought experiment!

 

[Yoboman]

I’m not a lawyer, but from what I’ve read this doesn’t necessarily mean the deal is done. I thought it just meant the business would be restricted to certain areas.

Most likely this would mean that the deal would be revised or at least this would be challenged.

The deal agreed to by MS and Activision requires approval from the CMA. That can be revised but doesn't seem likely

At this point ABK can collect $3 billion in fines, most of which I'm sure will go to the board members. And then sell again to a more likely buyer

 

[Edgelord79]

The deal agreed to by MS and Activision requires approval from the CMA. That can be revised but doesn't seem likely

Yes that makes sense. Curious at the impending lawsuit as it seems in Microsoft’s best interest to pursue.

 

[The Alien]

What's the point of competition?
It's to beat the other guy.

SMH at people on here acting like this is some big shit.

 

[Dr. Claus]

What's the point of competition?
It's to beat the other guy.

SMH at people on here acting like this is some big shit.

DeepEnigma You were right. Goalposts are being moved and new narratives are already being formed to justify MS' big fuckup.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I'm sure they would not shed a tear if Sony dropped out of the market but to think they have a plan to force Sony out of the market is, well, stupid. They have failed to even compete with Sony since the Xbox, but now suddenly think they can not only compete but extinguish Sony? They totally failed to outcompete Steam on their own OS where they could add all the hooks they wanted along with money hatting GFWL exclusivity. Their own games still sell gangbusters on Steam even with tyem being 'free' on gamepass.
If they really thought they could push out Sony - either as a thought experiment or for real then they are stupid (they may be stupid, they have done lots of stupid things)

You're adorable.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Short and sassy.

I like that.

Would it be ok if Microsoft took the 70 billion and money hated every major AAA game for 1 year, for years? They are not buying the competition.

I don't see a world or a scenario where Microsoft would be allowed to use their leverage as a trillion company to play in the same field as Sony without raising the concern of uneven advantage they have. I mean we can say they should focus on developing good games, but Sony doesn't do that only.

So let's say in the subject of times exclusives, is their a limit in the scenario I assumed above where Microsoft cannot cross? Like it would require intervention from FTC or CMA? I mean theoretically speaking with the money they have, they can create a similar effect without buying any publisher.

Because that $70 billion is not Xbox money, that's why. It's Azure/Windows/Office money that's being thrown over to the Xbox division. The 3P deals and exclusives Sony manages with PlayStation use PlayStation's money and market valuation/brand worth to leverage them.

The same is not the case for most of Xbox's 3P deals, especially WRT to the Zenimax or certainly the ABK acquisitions (but primarily the ABK one). If Xbox as a brand were driving market share and valuation to command $70 billion on its own for such deals, or bringing in big enough profits & revenue (but particularly profits) to make that $70 billion its own money for those 3P deals, very few would be complaining.

But that's not how it actually is.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Can someone with some skills put "leave Microsoft alone" over that famous gif of the "leave Britany alone!" girl. Thanks.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Perfect!